2011 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 14: Records, Legal Notices and Oaths
Article 8: Recording, 14-8-1 through 14-8-17
Section 14-8-16: Filings of legal descriptions and plats of real property authorized; recording.

14-8-16. Filings of legal descriptions and plats of real property authorized; recording.

A. A person owning real property that is subject to property taxation under the Property Tax Code may file for record in the office of the county clerk of the county where the real property is located a legal description or a plat of the real property. The legal description or plat shall be acknowledged and shall be certified by a professional surveyor licensed in the state.

B. The United States, the state or its political subdivisions and any agency, department or instrumentality of the United States, the state or its political subdivisions may file for record in the office of the county clerk of the county where the real property is located a legal description or a plat of real property. The legal description or plat shall be acknowledged and shall be certified by a professional surveyor licensed in the state and shall show the governmental agency, department or political subdivision under whose supervision and direction the description or plat was prepared.

C. The county clerk shall number descriptions filed under this section consecutively and shall number plats filed under this section consecutively. Immediately upon receiving a description or plat for filing, the county clerk shall note on the instrument the filing number, the date and the time of filing and shall make proper entries in the reception book and in the index to general real estate records.

D. The county clerk shall record all descriptions and plats in the same manner as other similar instruments affecting real property are recorded. The county clerk shall charge a fee as provided for in Section 14-8-15 NMSA 1978 for recording documents in the office of the county clerk.

E. If the county clerk has the appropriate technology, the clerk shall record the plat electronically, return the original to the person who submitted the plat and forward an electronic copy to the county assessor. Otherwise, all plats to be recorded shall be filed in duplicate with the county clerk. One copy shall be recorded by the county clerk, and one copy shall be delivered by the county clerk to the county assessor.